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KAMOOLAWE 



HAWAIIAN ISLANDS 




SOURCES OF SUPPLY AND DISTRIBUTION POINTS 
OF BANANAS IMPORTED INTO UNITED STATES 

♦ Red stars (solid) indicate tropical ports of supply for eastern ports. 
2^ Red stars (outlined) indicate eastern ports of importation. 

• Red dots indicate principal interior distribution points for eastern 

ports of importation. 
» Blue stars (solid) indicate tropical ports of supply for southern ports. 
^ Blue stars (outlined) indicate southern ports of importation. 

• Blue dots indicate principal interior distribution points for southern 

ports of importation. 

* Green star (solid) indicates Hawaiian port of supply for western 

port. 
t^ Green star (outlined) indicates western port of importation. 

♦ Yellow stars (solid) indicate tropical ports of supply for English 

ports. 
}^OTE — Red; blue, green and yellow lines indicate general course 
and not exact routes of banana steamships. 




O N 

• WJNNIPES 



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^V(£INN_ATlr>^ARKER50yRS 
WEST 
EVAI(SVILLE_ ,<L0UISVaLE\VIR'3INiy RICHMOND 





HARVESTING THE BANANA [See PAfiK 27] 



THE STORY 

OF THE 

BANANA 



" The most delicious thing in the ivorld is a banana" 

Benjamin Disraeli 



PUBLISHED BY 

UNITED FRUIT COMPANY 

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 
1921 



^'^ 







■ ■ -^ ^ 



CorvRicHT. li)21 

BY 

UNITED FRUIT COMPANY 



JUN -8 1921 

©C1A619351 







CONTENTS 



PAGE 

Introductory Note 9 

Early History 11 

Principal Species 12 

The Plant 13 

The Fruit Itself 18 

Where Grown 19 

Scope of the Modern Plantation 19 

Developing the New Plantation 21 

Harvesting the Banana 26 

Transporting the Fruit to the Loading Port 33 

Loading the Banana Cargo 34 

The Banana Steamship 34 

Discharging the Banana Cargo 39 

Banana Shipments by Rail to Interior Points 43 

Selling the Banana 45 

Handling by the Jobber 45 

Banana Rooms 46 

Handling by the Retailer 47 

Food Value of the Banana 47 

Bibliography 49 

United Fruit Company — What It Is and Does 51 



ILLUSTRATIONS 



Harvesting the Banana Frontispiece 

Map showing Sources of Supply and Distribution Points uf Bananas imported 

into United States preceding frontispiece 

PAGE 

Banana Plant about Ten Months Old with Leaves cut away to show clearly 

the Flower-bud as it emerges at top of "Trunk" 13 

Flower-bud a Few Days after emerging at top of "Trunk" and before any 

Bracts have fallen 14 

Flower-bud a Few Days after some of the Bracts have fallen, partially expos- 
ing the "Fingers" 15 

Young Bunch with all the Bracts off, showing the "Fingers" which have just 

started to turn upward 16 

Fully-developed Bunch ready for Harvesting 17 

Banana Plantation Hospital 20 

Banana Overseer's House 20 

Clearing Land for Bananas 22 

Banana Plantation Three Months after Planting 23 

Bridge under Construction for a Banana Railroad 25 

Extensive Cut made for a Banana Railroad 25 

Effects of a Windstorm 26 

Banana Plantation in Production 27 

Heart of a Banana Plantation showing Tramway 28 

Cutting off the Bunch from the Tree 29 

"Backing" the Bunch 30 

Hauling Bananas by Ox-tram to Railway 31 

HauUng Bananas by Steam-tram to Railway 32 

Loading Bananas into Railway Cars 33 

Trainload of Bananas on its Way to the Steamship 35 

Conveying Fruit from Cars to Steamship (former method) 36 

Conveying Fruit from Cars to Steamship (present methotl) 37 

Refrigerator Banana Steamship 38 

Banana Unloading Machines at New Orleans 39 

Horizontal Conveyors Working in Conjunction with Unloading Machine 

(New Orleans) 40, 41 

Weighing Cars of Bananas 42 

Icing Cars of Bananas at New Orleans 44 

Banana Room 46 

A Giant Bunch of Bananas 48 



INTRODUCTORY NOTE 



On account of the widespread and steadily increasing; interest shown in l)ananas and 
the many reqnests for literatnre on the subject, this brief article has been compiled. The 
description of the banana indnstry is based mainly on the operations of the United Frnit 
Company, and as these ojierations are so interwoven with its varions other activities, a 
slioit statement of what that Company is and does has been appended. 

The editor feels that whatever merit the article may possess is dne to the help and 
cooperation jjiven in its compilation by his associates, and he wishes to record his ap- 
preciation of their assistance. 



THE STORY OF THE BANANA 

Compiled and edited by PHILIP K. REYNOLDS, 
Assistant to the President of the United Fruit Company. 



EARLY HISTORY 



Probably few of the millions who enjoy the banana as a daily article of food ever stop 
to consider its origin or growth, or the long and rapid present-day journey of this re- 
markable fruit from the tropical plantation to the consumer's table. 

While the commerce in bananas is of comparatively recent growth, the plant has 
been cultivated and used from the earliest historical times. The bas-i"eliefs of the mon- 
uments of Assyria and Egypt show that the fruit was known and used in those lands 
in ancient times. When Alexander the Great invaded India, he found large tracts of 
land in the lower valley of the Indus devoted to the cultivation of the fruit. 

The original home of the banana is believed to be India, at the foot of the Himalayas, 
where it has been cultivated since remotest antiquity. Its origin in the New World is as 
doubtful as the origin of the American Indian. Indigenous to Asia and Africa, where 
more than twenty distinct species of the genus are known, it is said to have been brought 
first to America from Spain early in the sixteenth century and planted in the island of 
Santo Domingo, whence its spread was I'apid througliout tlie surrounding islands and the 
mainland. This has never been authentically established, however, and some authorities 
include the banana among the articles that formed the base of the food supply of the 
Incas and the Aztecs before the arrival of the Spaniards. Certain it is that throughout 
the whole of tropical America there is a strong tradition that at least two species of the 
banana were cultivated long before the coming of the Europeans. Furthermore, it is 
singular that in all the languages indigenous to the regions where the banana appears, 
the plant has a special name, not proceeding from the conquerors, as was the case with 
the names of many other plants, animals and various articles introduced into America 
after its discovery. 

The first known importations of bananas into the United States were in the late 
sixties, when small quantities were brought to New Orleans by schooners from the Bay 
Islands oflf the coast of Spanish Honduras, and shipments on a very small scale were 
made by steamer to New York from Colon (within the i)resent I'anama Canal Zone). 
In 1870, a few bunches were brought into Boston from Jamaica by schooner. In the 
years immediately following, further small quantities were brought by schooners from 
Jamaica and Cuba into Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore. In 1872, the 
first steamer shipment (250 bunches) was made from Colon to New Orleans, which 
resulted in flooding that market. About 1879, bananas were first shipped from Costa 
Rica to New York by steamer. The fruit, even at this time, was looked upon as a curi- 



12 THE STORY OF THE BANANA 

osity, no (iiie dreaniing of its later becoming an important factor in the food supply of 
the I'nited States. In the eighties, schooners generally gave way to steamers for carry- 
ing bananas, but it was not until the formation of tiie United Fruit Company in 189U, that 
the banana industry really assumed large proportions. 

Bananas were first imported commercially in small quantities into England from 
Madeira in 1S7S and from the Canary Islands in 1882, but were regarded as exotic 
I'arities. In 1001, banana sliipments by steamer from -lamaica to Great Britain were 
started by Elders & Fylles, Ltd. Although refrigerator ships were used, the venture 
was not successful until tlie following year when the United Fruit Company began to 
supply that company with bananas from Jamaica and Costa Rica specially selected for 
the British market. 

The history of the banana trade is one of the romances of business. From small 
beginnings, hardly more than a generation ago, it has developed into an industry of 
great size and economic importance. Moreover, it is unique in its economic aspects 
since it involves a highly specialized system of production in widely separated tropical 
localities, the maintenance of adequate, expensive and carefully controlled means of 
rail and water transportation and highly organized distributing agencies in tlie coun- 
tries to which the fruit is sent. 

PEINCirAL SPECIES 

The banana belongs to the family Mu.sa and is one of the most important and inter- 
esting of all food products. (Irown on an equal acreage, it will support a larger number 
of persons than wheat. There are many species of tlie plant, but tlie most important are: 
first, Mum satnciitinn — Fruit of Knowledge — deriving its name from the belief that the 
ancient sages of India reposed in the shade of the banana tree and refreshed themselves 
witli the fruit thereof, — formerly thought to lie a distinct family, but now known to be a 
species, which is found growing in the West Indies and on the American mainland, from 
the Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic of Capricorn; second, Musa cdandi.shii (Chinese or 
dwarf variety), found in tlie Canary Islands, on the African mainland, in portions of 
Asia and in the Islands of the Faciflc and Indian Oceans; and third, .l/».s« paradisitica 
— Frnit of Paradise — deriving its name from the legend that the banana tree grew and 
fiourished in the Garden of Eden and was tlie tree of the source of good and evil. This 
last variety is known as the plantain, which is found tliroiiglioiit all the regions named, 
and which is eaten only when cooked. 

There are a number of varieties of the Mitsa scqncntuin, the most common being 
known as Gros Mirlid ("Great Michael") which grows to the best advantage at from 50 
feet to 2.">(» feet above sea level and which is the principal banana of commerce. In the 
ripening process, the skin of the Gros Michel assumes a beautiful yellow color. Another 
variety of the .1/h.s(/ snpirntiuii is the "claret" or "red" banana (deriving its name from 
the color of its skin), which is found in Central America and the West Indies. This 
banana has been classified by the botanists as Rubra, but it is also known as Baracoa, 
Red Juiixiico and Ral Spdiiixh. In comparison with the Gros Michel, the bunch is 
smaller while the fruit itself is shorter but larger in diameter, giving it a somewhat 
stubby appearance. Although the red banana has a pleasant flavor, there is a very 
limited demand for it. 



THE f<TORY OF THE BANANA 



13 



THE PLANT 

The banana plant is a rapidly-growing herbaceous perennial which contains in tlie 
aggregate about 85% water. It is probably the largest terrestrial jilant not having a 
woody stem above ground. It is closely related to some of our common decorative plants, 




BANANA PLANT ABOUT TEN MONTHS OLD WITH LEAVES CUT AWAV TO SHOW CLEAUIA THE, 
FLOWER-BUD AS IT EMERGES AT TOP OF "TRUNK" 

belonging to llie same family as the Caiina so frequently grown in gardens. Tlie real 
trnnli or main stem of the plant is underground, and is a thick, fleshy rootstock, known 
as a rhizome, on wiiich large buds or "eyes" are developed, somewhat as the eyes develo)) 
on the potato. From the buds on this short solid rhizome, or bulb-root, the leaves grow 




FLOWER-BUD A FEW DAYS AFTER EMERGING AT TOP OF •TRUNK" AND BEFORE ANV BRACTS 

HAVE FALLEN 




FLO\YEU-BUD A FEW DAYS AFTER SOME OF THE BRACTS HAVE FALLEN. PARTIALLY EXFOSING 

THE "FINGERS" 




YOUNG BIXCII WITH ALL THE BRACTS OFF, SHOWING THE "FINGEKS." WHICH HAVE JUST 

STARTED TO Tt'RN UPWARD 
(The Blosso.mkxu at Tir oi- Bu.nch Coxtaixs Flowees which are Infektile.) 



THE STORY OF THE BANANA 



17 



upward, the first ones tightly rolled aud sharply pointed. Growth takes place rapidly, 
new leaves pushing up through the centre while the stalk increases in height until 
it is several yards above the ground. What seems to be the trunk of the young ti'ee is 
in reality only a compact mass of 
leaf-sheaths, spirally arranged 
and overlapping. As the plant 
develops in size, the older leaf- 
sheaths are pushed outward by 
the young growing leaves within, 
and a smooth, shiny, strong 
pseudo-stem, or trunk, is formed. 
At the upper end of the "trunk" 
the leaves cease to clasp the stem 
aud each one develops a triir 
petiole or leaf-stem. Thesi 
petioles quickly develop into im- 
mense, bright green leaves, or 
fronds, and spread out or rise 
almost vertically, giving a very 
graceful palm-like aspect to the 
whole plant. The number of 
leaves so appearing varies from 
eight to twenty or more, accord- 
ing to the vigor of the plant and 
the soil conditions. These leaves 
are often of great size, attaining 
a length of from 8 to 12 feet 
and a width of 2 feet or even 
more. 

The trees vary much in size, 
those growing in the rich river 
bottoms along the Atlantic coast 
of Central America sometimes 
reaching a height of 40 feet, with 
a diameter of 18 to 24 inches. It 
is interesting to note, in com- 
parison, that the average height 
of the banana tree in Jamaica is 
from 18 to 25 feet, and in Cuba 
from 12 to 18 feet, showing 

the effect of climatic conditions as we recede from the humid warmth of the torrid 
zone. 




FULLY-DEVELOPED BUNCH READY FOR HARVESTING 



As many buds or eyes are developed from a single rootstock, there eventually 
arises a little colony of plants from the same underground mother-root, but in the course 
of time each plant develops a bulb of its own. 



18 THE fiTORY OF THE BANANA 

As the iudividual plant approaches maturity, it produces a flower-bud which later 
becomes a Imiich of bananas. The stem which is to bear the fruit pushes up from the 
rhizome through the centre of the leafsheath, until at the end of the uinth or tenth mouth 
after planting, the flower-bud emerges at the top of the trunk, looking not unlike a 
huge ear oi corn enveloped in its husks or bracts. As this flower-bud increases in size 
its weight causes it to bend over and downward ; the coverings or bracts then drop off, 
disclosing the young bananas, quite small and pointing outward, but bending upward 
as they become larger. The terminal tlower-l)ud on the cluster is sterile and produces no 
fruit.* 

THE FRUIT ITSELF 

Each plant developed to maturity from the rootstock bears but a single bunch of 
bananas, which is made up of so-called "hands" or clusters. These hands grow sep- 
arately in spirals, each containing from ten to twenty-five individual bananas or "fin- 
gers." Commercially, bananas are classed as ranging from nine to six hands, any bunch 
having less than six hands not being readily marketable. The standard commercial 
sized bunch has nine hands, all bunches with nine or more hands being classed as "nine 
hand" fruit. A nine hand biinch varies in weight according to the variety of the fruit 
and the soil and climatic conditions under which it is grown, the average weight rang- 
ing from 50 to 75 pounds. Occasionally a bunch of bananas is produced which has 
as many as twenty-two hands with more than three hundred individual bananas, weigh- 
ing approximately 150 pounds, but this is extremely rare.f 

The heaviest and tlie best developed fruit C(unes from Panama and the lightest fruit 
from Cuba, the difference being entirely explained by the same differences in the agricul- 
tural conditions, whicli, as we liave seen above, similarly affect the size of the tree itself. 

One will readily appreciate the necessity for inlinite care in handling a bunch of 
bananas when he pauses to consider that this fruit, which is cut from the tree in a green 
state, is, until fully ripe, practically a living organism drawing sustenance from its stalk, 



* The inflorescence is a terminal spike with floral leaves placed spirall.v. and sometimes mag- 
nitieentl.v colored ; in the axils of each of these, several flowers are situated in two transverse rows 
(accessory buds) ; the lowest flowers are pistillate, the ui)per ones staminate, so that the fruit Is 
foun<l oni.T in the lower region of the inflorescence, the remaining portion persisting as a naked axis 
after the iiraets and flowers have fallen off: the inflorescence terminates in an ovoid hud, formed li.v 
the flowers which have not opened. 

t Commercial Banana Terms: 

"Variety" indicates the country where produced and exported. For example: "Limons" are grown 
in the vicinity of I^>rt Limon, Costa Rica. "Changuin.das" are grown in the Changuinola District of 
Panama, etc. 

Bananas are divided into classes based on the number of hands to each stem. 

<i "Xines" are bunches of bananas containing nine or more fully developed hands. 

h ''Eights" are l)unclies of liananas containing eight fully developed hands. 

c. "Sevens" are bunches of liananas containing seven fully developed hands. 

d. "Sixes" are bunches of liananas containing six fully developed hands. 

"Stems" is a general term applied to bananas regardless of class and has exactly the same 
meaning as "bunches of bananas." 

"Grade" refers distinctly to the fullness of the fruit when cut and is expressed as follows: 
three-quarter, full three-quarter and full. Thin fruit, the lingers of which are not sufficiently filled 
out, is the exact opposite of full fruit. 



THE ^TORY OF TEE BA^A^'A 19 

with sap flowiug and tissues changing; tliat it generates heat within itself in the ripen- 
ing process; that a few degrees of temperature above or below normal may stimulate too 
rapid ripening on the one hand, or produce checlied vitality and chill on the other; and 
that from the plantation to tlie ripening room it is shipped '•loose," i.e., without box, 
crate or wrapping of any kind.* 

'WHEKE (;R(JWN 

Bananas are now cultivated in most tropical countries, where they constitute one 
of the principal foods. They can be grown in sub-tropical zones, but to produce the 
fruit to the best advantage a tropical climate and considerable rainfall are necessary. 
In addition to the immense production of bananas in Central and South America, the 
West Indies and Mexico, they are grown (in some localities for export but chietly for 
local consumption) in the tropical sections of Africa, Asia and Australia where the 
rainfall is abundant ; also in the Canary Islands, Hawaiian Islands, I'hilippine Islands, 
Malay Archipelago, Fiji Islands and tlie various islands of the Pacific within the 
torrid zone. In certain localities where the soil is good liut the rainfall insufticient, 
irrigation is practiced, but this is possible only where an abundant water supply is avail- 
able, as the water requirement of the banana is euormous. 

Central America otters ideal conditions for banana cultivation. The main moun- 
tain backbone runs along the Pacific Coast, the lesser ranges to the eastward, leaving 
wide slopes, river valleys and lowlands on the Caribbean side. It is in this section, a 
few miles back from the coast, at an elevation of not more than 250 feet above sea 
level, with its hot days and humid nights and with an annual rainfall of from SO to 
200 inches, that the wilderness of tropical jungle has made way for the greatest fruit 
farms of the world. All within the past forty years an enormous agricultural indus- 
try, with its related interests of railways, stores, docks, villages and hospitals, has 
sprung up in a region formerly almost uninhabited. Central America may indeed thank 
the banana trade for by far the most progressive development and constructive influ- 
ence which have ever reached its shores. 



SCOPE OF THE MODERN PLANTATION 

The modern banana plantation is a marvel of system and immensity, all the more 
impressive because of its setting of primeval jungle. In the transformation within a 
few years from a riotous wilderness of huge trees, palms, vines, ferns and other tropi- 

* Canary auil Hawaiian bananas are exceptions. Hawaiian l)ananas. wiiicli are sliipped in small 
quantities to San Francisco, are wrapped first in a layer of soft paper, usually newspapers, then in a 
padding of rice straw, with finally an outer covering of lianana filire or leaves, the bundle itself being 
tied securely with a heavy hemp cord. Each Iranch is l)aled .separately and the curved end of the 
stem is allowed to extend through the wrapping to facilitate handling. 

Canary bananas, which are shipped in limited quantities to British and Continental ports, are 
packed in strongly made wooden crates — the larger fruit one bunch to a crate, the smaller fruit 
two, and sometimes three, bunches to a crate. The bottom of the crate is first covered with a layer 
of straw ; then the bunch is wrapped in a large sheet of paper and carefully placed in the crate, 
which is thereupon stuffed with straw. In the last few years, cylindrical leatherboard drums have 
been used to a considerable extent in the place of wooden crates. 



20 



THE HTORY OF THE BANA1S[A 



cal growth to a vast tract of cultivated land, there is a succession of steps which can 
scarcely be contemplated by those familiar only with farming operations in the tem- 
perate zone. The surrounding country is first thoroughly explored as to its fitness 




BANANA PLANTATION HOSPITAL 



for banana cultivation. Then comes the clearing away of forest and brush, the 
digging of the main ilrainage ditches, the buil<ling of houses, railroads and tram- 
ways ami Ibe planting. Then follows the gradual devclopiiicut 



iiid extension until 




BANANA OVEKSEEKS HOUSE 



vast areas are pouring their product methodically and regularly into the holds of the 
ships at the loading ports. 

The personnel of a farm consists of an overseer or "mandador," timekeeper, foremen, 
stockman and laborers. The land, when surveyed in the lirst instance, is laid out in sec- 



THE STORY OF THE BANANA 21 

tions of a size convenient for allotting tlie work and for keeping proper records of 
pliYsical conditions, operating costs and production from the time of planting. Aside 
from the necessary transportation, housing facilities, stores and equipment, a supply of 
foodstuffs and merchandise must be made available at reasonable prices. Hospital 
treatment must also be provided in case of sickness or accident, and the general sanitary 
condition of the plantation and the welfare of its employees and laborers must be prop- 
erly looked after in order to maintain an efficient organization. 

The (luality and condition of the fruit and its prompt and careful handling are 
the all-important factors. To dispatch the modern type of refrigerator steamer at 
regular and freipient intervals, with a cargo of from -iO.OOO to 75,000 stems of prime, 
freshly cut fruit, reijuires a vast area of good producing land, connecte<l with the trop- 
ical port by railways whose total length may extend into the hundreds of miles. The 
railways in turn are fed by a still more extensive system of light trandines. The fruit 
in some instances is subject to a railway haul of seventy miles. The riding, work 
and pack animals required on the farms run into the thousands, and a small 
aiiny of employees and laborers is constantly engaged. Each plantation must have 
good telephone communication with its district headtjuarters and with a central of- 
fice for the prompt distribution of cutting advices, control of deliveries and opera- 
tion of the fruit trains. This central office in turn communicates by cable or radio with 
the head offices and with the ships en route, and every effort is made to have the arrival 
of the fruit and the steamer at loading port coincide, as well as to have the fruit, after it 
is cut, |)ut aboard the ship in the briefest possible time. The whole system forms a most 
interesting example of organization and attention to detail. 



DEVEL()PIX(; THE NEW J'LAXTATIOX 

The first and most important step is the selection of the land. Many factors must be 
considered, such as climate, soil, rainfall, drainage, liability to damage by floods and 
hurricanes and the feasibility of securing labor and supplying transportation. 

The plantation is developed from virgin land, covered, as a rule, with forest 
and a dense tropical undergrowth. After the land has been selected and the sur- 
veying and drainage ditches completed, it is underltrushed, lined and staked, after which 
it is ready for planting. Underbrushing, as the name implies, consists in chop])ing down 
the undergrowth with cutlasses ("machetes"! so that one may move about freely between 
the trees. Lining and staking consist in carefully laying out and marking tlie land witli 
stakes set at the distance at which it is intended to plant the bananas, so that the young 
plantation will have regularity and orderliness. The distance between the stakes varies 
according to soil and climatic conditions. In Central America the planting distance 
is usually from 18 to 24 feet each way and in Cuba and Jamaica, owing to the small 
growth of the tree, about 12 by _ 12 feet. As the plantation develops, the underground 
rootstocks send up new suckers, or young plants, on all sides of the original plant. Only 
a few of these young plants are allowed to develop to maturity, but in an old plantation 
each hill, or mat, consists of from half a dozen to a dozen plants standing more or less 
closely in an area which may be several feet in diameter; thus the alignment of a youn" 
plantation is gradually lost and the rows become irregular. 



THE STORY OF THE BANANA 



As the seeds of the hanaim are i^ractieally atropliied in the cultivated varieties, 
the planting is done with a piece of rhizome, or Inilhroot, containing a l)nd or eye, very 
nnich as potatoes are planted. A shallow hole ahont li' inclies deep is dng at each stake 
and a section of tlie rliizonie, with the eye toward tlie hottoni. is placed in the hole and 




CLEAKING LAND FOR BANA.NAS 



covered with earth. These portions of seed-bulbs or "hit,s," weigh from three to fonr 
pounds each and are usually cut from rhizomes taken from adjacent vigorous culti- 
vations. 

When digging bits for planting, care is taken to see that each has at least one 
good eye. (-)nly the larger bits are used, as a small bit produces a weak plant and 
requires more time and labor to yield fruit. After tlie bits have been carried to the 
place where they are to be planted, they are again inspected, any witli a bruised eye 
being rejected. 



With the completion of the planting and before the young plants have appeared 
above the surface of the ground, the felling of the larger trees is done, the dense 
tropical growth nudving this opei"ation laborious and exi)ensive. The tropical forest 
usually contains a large variety of trees, many of them of great size. It is not unusual 
to encounter giants of the jungle which require considerable time for one man to chop 
down. Of these huge trees the Ceiba and the (luanacaste are the most frequently found. 
Where irrigation is necessary for the successful cultivation of bananas, the felling 



THE STORY OF THE BANANA 



23 



usually follows immediately after the underbrushing and the whole mass is then burned, 
after which the laud is lined, staked and planted. 

After the felling, the future plantation is an almost impassable tangle of stumps 
and trees, with interlocked branches and matted vines. In fact, its aspect at this stage 
is one of a heavy forest shorn otf at the ground and laid flat in a tangled mass. The 
felled land gives the impression that one is in the wake of some devastating agent in- 
stead of in the midst of a plantation in the making. Through this mass must be cut the 
right of way for railway lines, narrow-gauge tramways and roads. This stage is a very 
critical one in the building of a plantation ; in case of a drought many of the bulbs may 
not germinate, which necessitates replanting later on, or the felled timber may catch on 




BANANA PLANTATION THREE MONTHS AFTER I'LANTING 



fire, which is disastrous to the planting. On the other hand, in the event of heavy 
rains, the area may become flooded, which is equally disastrous to the youug plants. To 
the outsider it might appear that felling the forest trees on the newly planted ground 
would entirely destroy the young plants; this, however, is not the case. The felling 
is done before the bits have started to sprout, and even if a log crashes down on top 
of one of these bits, the plant will usually grow up around the log and adjust itself 
to the situation. The enormous amount of logs, branches, leaves and trash covers 
the ground like a mulch and instead of being destructive, actually establishes the 
most favorable conditions possible for the growth of the young banana plants. The 
hot humid atmosphere and the wealth of fungus and bacterial organisms cause the 
felled trees to undergo rapid decomposition. The twigs and smaller branches quickly 



24 THE NTORY OF THE BANANA 

rot, adding to the liumus in the soil. The huger brandies decay more .slowly; the 
huge truidv.s may witlistand this action for several years, and are sometimes burned to 
get them out of the way. 

About three months after planting, the plantation is ready for its first '"cleaning." 
This consists in cutting down the smaller limbs and liranches of the felled trees as 
well as chopping down tlie weeds and tropical growth that have sprung up, which, 
if left, would soon choke out the young banana plants. From now on, at intervals of from 
three to four months, the plantation has to be cleaned. Through the various cleanings 
much of the original forest growth felled has l)een carried off or has (lecaye<l, although 
the stumps and logs of the larger trees may still remain. At each cleaning, any failure 
of the original rhizome to come np, commonly teiined "misses," or any damage to the 
young i)lants by felling or ravages of animals has to be overcome by "supplying," i.e., 
replanting. This is usually done by using "suckers" (althougli "bits" are occasionally 
used) which are obtained from older fields and are, as previously described, young 
plants which have developed from the underground buds or eyes on the bulb or root- 
stock. By means of a sharp mattock they are cut cleanly oft" from the parent root- 
stock or "mat" and carefidly removed so as not to break olf tiie small roots. The 
green leaves are cut back and tlie young jilaiit is then set out in its place in the row 
and soon begins to take root and to send out new leaves. Tlie success of the planta- 
tion de])ends in a great measure on the "stand" obtained from the original planting. 

A great deal of other work must be done simultaneously with or .soon after tlie 
planting, in order to be prepared to handle the crop which begins to come in fr(»m twelve 
to fifteen months later. As the banana plantation is established on virgin land, the op- 
erations may be a few or many miles from any habitation. Railway construction must 
follow closely behind tlie i)lanting in order to bring in material and su]iplies for laborers 
and for construction, (iuaiters for employees and laborers have to be constructed, areas 
cleaned ami ]iastures made for work animals, and tramlines laid down tliroughout the 
plantations as fast as the right of way can be cleared througli the felled land. It is a race 
against time to accomplisli all of this, in which tlie uncertainty of nature's elements 
plays an important ])art. Owing to the heavy and irregular rainfall, both farm and 
construction work are continually iiiterru]ited. The most ]>romising outlook may be 
turned into disaster overnight by a flood, and seveial inontJis' time and labor lost. 

On account of the soft, porous natni'e of the soil ami the heavy precipitation, it has 
been found more economical and efficient to supply the plantations with a .system of light 
tramlines, rather than to attempt lo build wagiui or cart roads on which to bring (uit 
the fruit. The distance which the bunches of fruit can lie carried by men or packed on 
animals over such land is very shoi't, especially during wet weather. This necessitates 
a vast network of tramways, with the lines only a few hundred yards apart, the cars in 
many cases being hauled by draught animals. 

After the primary construction period has passed, a large force of laborers is con- 
stantly required to keep down the rapid tropical growth, and to give each section its 
cleaning and supplying at the proper time. Old drainage ditches have to be cleaned 
out and new ones dug. There are innumerable small bridges for the tramroads over the 
ditches and small creeks which require constant attention and repair, especially after 




BKIDGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION FOR A BANANA RAILROAD 




EXTENSIVE CUT MADE FOR A BANANA RAILROAD 



26 



THE fiTORY OF THE BANANA 



each heavy rain, duriug which many of them are washed away. Pai"t of this laljor is 
also organized into cutting gangs for harvesting the fruit on cutting days. 

In addition to the labor involved in keeping in check the riotous tropical vegeta- 
tion, the lianana plantation must be ready for other emergencies. At times, excessive 
rains cause the rivers to overflow their banks and change their course, which results in 
great damage to or total destruction of large banana areas, as well as heavy damage to 
the main roadbed and bridges. t)ccasionally, a hurricane may sweep through a district, 
causing a total loss of the crop. Windstorms of a velocity not exceeding 20 to 30 




EFFECTS OF A WINDSTORM 



miles an hour often iirove very destructive to banana plantations, especially to the 
trees bearing fruit ready for cutting which, on account of the heavy weight of the bunches, 
are more apt to be blown down. Then again, a drought may occur which seriously retards 
or damages the fruit; also ravages of in.sect pests, such as locusts, must sometimes be 
condtated. All these and other conditions necessitate fre(pient revision of the estimate 
of the i)lautation output in order that ships of the proper carrying capacity may be 
supplied. 

HARVESTING THE BANANA 

As previously stated, the trunk of the banana plant, or tree, as it is commonly called, 
is nothing more than a leaf-sheath. Three or four weeks after the rhizome has been 
planted, this leaf-sheath appears above the ground and in the course of about twelve 
months the plant will have reached a height of from 20 to 40 feet, depending upon 
climatic conditions. Usually by the tenth or eleventh month from the time of planting, 
the stem which is to bear the fruit has pushed itself up from the rhizome through the 




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28 



THE ^TORY OF THE BA^\i^NA 



centre of the leaf-slieatli, and the hh)ss<ini lias -.shot" or appeared in the centre of the 
erown of the leafsheath. From three to five months are then re(piired to develop a 
bunch of lianaiias ready for cutting, this fruition period varying considerably with the 
weather conditions. 




HEART OF A BANANA PLANTATION SHOWING TRAMWAY 

After the first crop, some of the young slioots or suckers, which sjiring up around the 
original phint from the same root-stock, are cut away, from two to five of the most prom- 
ising being left to grow up and supply fruit Liter. Tiiis is termed "pruning." Thus, 
as the plantation comes into bearing, there are always young ])Iauts coming to matu- 
rity to replace those which have already borne fruit and have been cut down, so 
that after a time the production becomes practically continuous over a period of several 
years. Areas are known, wliere, as a result of a single planting, the trees have con- 
tinued in production for twenty years. 



THE RTORY OF THE BANANA 



29 



As fruit of various stages of development is coming on at the same time, a practiced 
eye is required to select the bunches of proper grade to be cut for shipment. Cut- 
ting of the fruit in a given section is done once, and frequently twice, a week. A cut- 
ting "gang"' usually consists of three men: the "cutter," the "backer" and the "muleman." 
The "cutter" uses a long pole with a special knife attached to the end. (See Frontispiece.) 
He nicks the trunk of the tree a few feet below the bunch and the weight of the bunch 




CUTTING OFF TlIU liLNClI FROM THE TREE 



causes the trunk to weaken and bend where it has been cut. The top of the tree with its 
bunch of fruit is steadied by the pole to avoid its coming down with a rusli and crushing 
the fruit. It is eased down until within reach of the "backer," who receives the bunch on 
his shoulders and the "cutter" severs the bunch from the tree with a machete and cuts off 
the blossom end. The "backer" immediately carries the bunch on his shoulder to the 
nearest packroad or tramline, and the "cutter" then cuts down the tree itself near the 
ground, where it quickly rots, the decayed stalk forming humus which acts as a good 
fertilizer for the soil. The fruit is then carried out on pack animals or loaded on tram- 
cars for transportation to the railway. In some instances, where the railway is very 
near, the bunch is "backed" right out to the track. In others, it is first "backed" a 




•BACKING" THE BUNCH 




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THE fiTORY OF THE BANANA 



33 



short distance, then packed on a mule and finally loaded on tramcars. The pack by ani- 
mals as well as the haul by trams is of varying distance, depending on the location of 
the land with resi)ect to the railway and tram facilities. A great many pack and tram 
animals are required on some farms, while on others small locomotives are used on the 
trams, instead of animals, on account of the very long heavy hauls. 



TKANSPORTING THE FRUIT TO THE LOADING PORT 

Upon arrival at the railroad two methods are employed in loading the fruit on rail- 
way cars, depending on the quantity of fruit assembled at one point, the location and the 
track facilities. Where possible, the trams are run to sidings or spurs of the main line, 




LOADING BA.NAAAtj IMu liAlLWAV CAKa 



and the fruit is passed from the tramcars to the waiting railway cars as fast as it conies 
out from the farm. In other cases, the bunches are placed alongside the track on turf 
or wooden platforms, and covered with leaves, to be loaded subsequently on fruit trains 
by loading gangs who travel with them. 

Definite loading orders are received in advance of the arrival of the steamship. lu 
due course cutting orders are transmitted to the district headquarters, based on the 
carrying capacity of the ship, and the estimated quantity of fruit of the required 
grade and (puility ready for cutting in each district. District headquarters distributes 
orders for the required amount among the farms and each farm overseer in turn makes 
his allotment to the individual sections and to the cutters, and sees that everything is 
in order to start the cutting at daylight the following day. Rigid inspection is en- 



34 THE ^TORY OF THE BAXA^\\ 

forced by the farin overseer, foremen, selectors and travelling inspectors, from the time 
the cutting commences until the fruit is loaded on railway cars. 

Special trains of empty banana cars are started out from the terminals as soon as cut- 
ting is well under way, each with its inspector and loading gang. These trains travel 
over the banana lines, receiving the fruit which has been placed alongside the track, pick- 
ing up the cars loaded at sidings and assembling them at central points. As fast as suf- 
iicient loads are assembled they are forwarded to the port in trainloads of from twenty 
to forty cars. 

LOADING THE BANANA CAEGO 

The loading of the steamer begins immediately upon the arrival of the first fruit 
train at the port. The cutting orders and the schedule of the fruit trains are so arranged 
that a continuous flow of fruit to the loading port is insured. The loading of the 
steamship continues day and niglit without interruption until completed, cargoes of 
75,000 bundles being loaded in twelve to fifteen hours. 

At all the principal banana loading ports, the cars of fruit are switched to the dock 
and the bananas carried to conveyors or loading machines, which take the bunches into 
the holds of the steamship. The fruit, on its way from the cars to these loading 
machines, is again inspected and all damaged or defective bunches and bunches show- 
ing excessive fullness or the slightest yellow color, are rejected on the wharf. Experi- 
enced gangs of laborers under direction of foremen receive the fruit in the holds of the 
steamship where it is carefully stoweil in the various compartments and bins. These 
bins are constructed of wooden bars called '•slutting boards" similar to the old farm 
gate, and prevent the fruit from rolling and becoming crushed. Each class of fruit, i.e., 
the nine, eight, seven and six hand Inmches, are usually stowed separately, and stowage 
plans are prepared, showing the location and quantity of the different classes, to 
facilitate the proper discliarge of the cargo upon arrival. The bunches are stowed 
on end, resting on the larger end or butt of the stalk, in from one to four tiers 
or with one or more tiers standing and one or two tiers laid horizontally thereon. The 
interstices between bunches, between hands and stalks and between the fingers, form 
natural channels for tlie circulation of air. 

As the loading of eacli deck is completed, tlie delivery end of tlie conveyor is raised 
to the deck above. On completion of the loading of the top deck, the conveyor is re- 
moved, the hatches are put on and if tlie vessel is a refrigerator ship the cooling of the 
cargo is l)egun. In the process of respiration bananas alisorb oxygen and throw oft' car- 
bon dioxide in lai'ge quantities and the problem is to carry the fruit well ventilated 
within a narrow range of temperature. It is the rule to precool the holds of a refriger- 
ator ship for a jieriod of about 24 himrs just prior to loading, and when loaded to reduce 
in the briefest time possible the temperature of the fruit to the desired degree and to 
maintain it at that point. 

THE BANANA STEAMSHIP 

To trans])ort liananas with any degree of success, specially designed steamships are 
necessary. Koth refrigerator and naturally ventilated vessels are used in tliis trade, 
particular attention being given to the feature of ventilation and air circulation. 







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THE fiTORT OF TUE BA^A^A 



The holds oi' a modern hanaua-carrying steamer are divided by several decks, wliich 
ill turn are subdivided by vertical partitions into a number of compartments of a con- 
venient size, the entire vessel being heavily insulated to prevent the transmission of 
heat. The fruit is cooled to the rcMjuired temperature by refrigerating apparatus. The 
air is passed over brine coils, which cool and dry it, and is then circulated by fans 
through the fruit holds. Most people will be surprised to know that the refrigerating 
machinery used is much more powerful than is recpiired for a steamer of similar capa- 
city carrying frozen meat, although banana cargoes are carried at a much higher tempera- 



-•^"rs-fi 








'vtesaanE? 







REFUIUEKATdK BA.VA.NA STEAMSllU' 



ture. In the case of bananas, the refrigerating apparatus must C(mteiul with the heat 
generated by the respiration of the fruit itself. 

Naturally ventilated shijis, which are generally used on the shorter runs, are equipped 
with large ventilators placed at convenient points to supply fresh air and di'aw out the 
stale air. These ventilators are maiiii)ulated by turning the large intake cowls to or from 
the direction of the wind. 

During the entire voyage the fruit is carefully inspected at regular intervals every 
few hours, day and night, niid the temperatures of the fruit holds closely ob.served and 
recorded. In the winter seas(Ui while the ship is approaching the Northern Atlantic 
ports, it is sometimes necessary to use artihcial heat in maintaining the desired tem- 
lierature of the fruit. 



THE STORY OF THE BANANA 



39 



The voyage from the various bauana shipping ports of Central America and Jamaica 
to New Orleans, Mobile or Galveston consumes from three to a little over five days and 
to Boston, New York, Philadelphia or Baltimore about seven or eight days, according to 
the distance, route and the speed of the vessel, while the voyage to England consumes 
about fourteen days. On account of the longer ocean voyage the bananas shipped to the 
English market are of a thinner grade, i.e., less fully developed, than the fruit sent to 
the United States. 




BANANA LNLUALllNG ilACIIINEt; AT .NEW UULEAXb 



DISCHARGING THE BANANA CARGO 



The problem of discharging banana cargoes varies according to the local conditions 
which exist at the different ports. As soon as the ship reaches the home port and while 
she is approaching the wharf, tlie hatches are opened up, weather permitting, and the 
work of discharging the cargo begins immeiliately the vessel is made fast. 

When a cargo of bananas is being discharged the wharf presents a very busy and in- 
teresting scene. It is, however, an orderly operation under direction of the superintend- 
ents and stevedores, and a few minutes' observation reveals the wonderful speed, accu- 
racy and sureness of a system evolved from long experience in the handling of banana 
cargoes. 

At New Orleans, Mobile and Galveston, the wharves are equipped with unloading 
machines, each having a capacity of 2,500 bunches an hour. The great booms of these 
machines are lowered deep into the holds of the ship and at the sound of the gong the 
wheels start whirring. Suddenly up come the big green bunches in the canvas pockets 




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42 



THE ^TORY OF THE BANANA 



of the endless chain, then across and down to the wharf, to be turned out automatically 
onto horizontal belt conveyors. 

At Xew Orleans the wharf is also completelj' fitted with mechanical conveyors of 
elaborate and ingenious construction, which transport the bananas from the unloading 
machine to the door of the refrigerator car. In the case of Mobile and Galveston, 
however, the bunches are lifted from the horizontal belt conveyors to the shoulders of 
men who marcii in continuous ant-like lines to the aisles between the many rows of re- 
frigerator cars and deliver the fruit at the car door. Inspectors are located one on 
each side of the delivery belt, and as each bunch reaches the iioint of discharge, its des- 
tination is called out in accordance with its condition, (juality and class! tication. 

At the Eastern ports, i.e., Boston, Xew York, Philadelphia and Baltimore, where the 
piers are not railway terminals, as is the case at Xew Orleans and the other Southern 
ports, the unloading of banana cargoes is done by hand. The men are placed on stages 
in the hatchways of the vessels and the fruit is jiassed up by them from one man to 
another and is taken out either through the sideports or through the deck hatches, as is 
nu)st convenient. The ship is usually discharged on both sides simultaneously, the fruit 
being unloaded into drays or automobile trucks on the wharf and int<» raili'oad cars on 
floats on the oft'shore side. When loaded, tlie car floats are towed to the various railroad 




WEI<;iII.N(; CWKS (IK KAN'AN'AS (EACH ('Alt IS U.N( '( lUl'I.EK P.EFOUE 
BEING WEIGHED) 



terminals where the cars are transferred to the land terminals by means of float bridges. 
At Boston a considerable portion of the fruit is trucked to the railroad yards and loaded 
directly into cars. 

Bananas are inspected and weighed at the seaboard by men specially appointed or 
licensed to do this work. The inspection is very rigid and any fruit showing the 



THE STORY OF THE BAXA^A 43 

slightest evidence ot damage or a degree of maturity wliicli forecasts early ripening is 
rejected for interior sliii)ment and sold locally. The fruit is carefully weighed after it 
is loaded in tlie railroad cars or di'ays, as the case may be, the cars and drays being 
tirst weighed empty and tlie tare recorded. 

All bunches are carefully counted with checking machines giving accurate count of 
the bunches as they pass through the car door (the machines used at New Orleans and 
Mobile working automatically), and the passport of the green bunch is thereafter the 
railroad bill of lading instead of the ship's manifest. 



BANANA SHIPMENTS BY KAIL TO INTERIOR POINTS 

After having been thoroughly inspected and equipped before being placed for load- 
ing, the cars, as previously stated, are weighed empty, and when loaded are again weighed. 
These cars are then made up into trains which are dispatched over the various roads on 
fast schedules. Caretakers, called banana messengers, travel through with the trains, in- 
specting, taking temperatures and arranging the ventilating devices in transit; or resi- 
dent messengers, who pei'form the same service, meet these trains at regular intervals 
in order to inspect the fruit and arrange the ventilation. The sliiiijier's (iflice at sea- 
board and consignees are kept in close touch with the banana cars through telegraphic 
advices from messengers vn route and resident messengers and superintendents of fruit 
houses, and through this service many losses incident to transportation are avoided. 

The fruit is carried into widespread territory in refrigerator cars which, in most 
cases, are equipped with false floors or fluor-racks, providing an air space of fimr 
to si.x inches in depth under the load. By coiiperation between shippers and the various 
railroads and car lines, these refrigerator cars have been brought uj) to a high standard, 
although much experimental work is still being done to improve design and construction. 
Tlie banana traffic is of great importance to the railroads of the ITnited States, a very 
large proportion of the importations being transported by them. ITsually the haul is 
long and in the opposite direction to the bulk of other railroad traffic. 

During the warm season the cars are refrigerated. Constant refrigeration in tran- 
sit is obtained by initial icing at seaboard and re-icing cii route as needed. Large cakes 
of ice are used, and the ventilators of the car are carried open to some extent to provide 
the necessary amount of fresh outside air to preserve the vitality of the fruit and at the 
same time to prevent over-refrigeration near the floor of the car. Large cakes of ice 
present to the atmosphere less surface in proportion to the weight than crushed ice or 
small cakes, therefore melting more slowly and producing a cooling effect over a longer 
period. (Convenient icing stations are established by the railroad companies at vari- 
ous divisional and junction points, and the cars are quickly iced in transit on advance 
notice given through the messenger service. 

In the winter season the banana cars ai-e jiapered and more or less heavily strawed 
according to the weather conditions so that the tiers of firmly-stowed bunches may 
be well fortified against the Northern cold. At seaboard points during the winter 
months, the cars are given an initial heating before they are loaded. At Eastern sea- 
board points the cars are again heated after being loaded and before the cars are started 
on their way. For winter emergencies great fruit houses ecpiipped with heating plants 




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THE STORY OF THE BANANA 45 

are placed at convenient points, the largest, located in Southern Illiuois, handling 
seventy-two cars at one time. If unusually cold weather prevails and produces lower 
temperatures in the cars than desired, they can thus be heated on the way to destination 
and the fruit warmed to the required degree. For the further protection of some of 
the shijiments destined for the nortliern part of the United States and Canada, car 
heater stoves are provided by the railroad companies at convenient points. With these 
stoves the required temjjerature can be maintained during extremely cold weather and 
in emergency when trains are snowbound or otherwise delayed. 

The distribution of bananas throughout the United States, is, generally speaking, as 
follows: The fruit imported through the Gulf ports is distributed all over the Southeast, 
south of the Ohio and Potomac Rivers, the Central West and through the great territory 
lying west of the Mississippi River, including Western Cana<la, while the fruit imported 
through the Atlantic ports is distributed mainly in the Eastern States, north of the 
Ohio and Potomac as far west as Columbus, Cleveland and Detroit, the New England 
States and Eastern Canada. 

SELLING THE BANANA 

The larger portion of the bananas imported is marketed through sales branches, 
located in all the important centres of tlie United States and Canada, which solicit and 
receive orders for the fruit from the jobbing trade in their territory. These orders 
are telegraphed or telephoned by the branches to headquarters at the seaboard for 
accei)tauce and are usually received before the cargo of bananas is discharged, al- 
though orders are taken at times for cars which have already been shipped from the sea- 
board. A large portion of the fruit arriving at Atlantic ports is sold locally by auction 
in truck lots. Bananas are sold to the joblung trade on the weight basis and many re- 
tailers have now adopted the i)ractice of selling by weight instead of by quantity. 

HANDLIN(} BY THE JOBBER 

The successful banana jobber is on the lookout for his shipments, unloads them 
qiiickly and devotes great care to the physical handling of the fruit iu order to avoid 
scarring and bruising. When the railroad car is unloaded at a distance from the banana 
rooms, the wagons or trucks which are used for transporting the fruit are provide<l with 
straw or hay. In case the car is placed at the jobber's unloading platform, an over- 
head track with trolley liooks is frecpiently used to convey the bunches separately to 
the banana rooms. 

In winter, protection is given against chilling by thoroughly strawing the wagons 
in which bananas are transported, and by covering each load with blankets or tarpaul- 
ins. In most of the northern territory vans, .somewhat resendiling those used for cari-y- 
ing furnitvire, heated with small stoves, ai'e used for unloading, and stoves are often 
jilaced in tlie cars. When the car is phice<l at the jobber's unloading platform, canvas 
windshields are employed to protect the fruit while moving from the car door to the 
interior of the building. 

A part of the jobber's distribution is represented in the shipment of single 
bunches of bananas by frciglit or express and s])ecial crates of various sizes and designs 
are manufactured ami used for this purpose. The returnable crate is constructed of oak 



46 



THE HTORY OF THE BA^'ANA 



slats with a Iniilap Itay siispt-iided within and so tied to tin' structure that the l>uuch 
t-annot he hiuised hv eontact witli tiie outer fianie. Tlie non-returnahle eiate is made 
(if light slats in which the hunch of hananas, placed in a paper hag manufactured for the 
purpose, is packed with straw or hay. The jobbers haiulliug the smaller classes of fruit 
frecjuently use cylindrical cardboard drums strengthened with wooden bottoms and 
hoops. 

BANANA ROOMS 

The care and ripening of the green fruit in the banana rooms of the jobber form an 
im])ortant link in the long chain of oi)erations extending from the plantation to the 
retail distribution, and the present a<lvanced tyi>e of banana room has i)een designed 
to simplify handling and to i)lace the banana on the market as a matured product 
at its highest intrinsic value. 

The bunches are hung systematically in the banana rooms from ceiling hooks with 
proper spacing to permit the i-equisite air circulation, and with a view to convenience in 
handling. 

As ripening is recognized as a vital jthenomenon resulting from changes faking 
place within the cells of the fruit, it is necessary to have normal, wholesome condi- 




B.\.SANA ROOM 



tions in the banana room. Provision is made for fresh air circulation and for the 
maintenance of the re(iuired degrees of humidity and tem]>era ture. The room is 
well insulated and titled with special heating and refrigerating ajiparatus in order 
to maintain an even temiieiature against exterior weather conditions. The heat- 
ing appliance is so designed that the products of combustion are conveyed to the 



THE ^TORY OF THE BANANA 47 

exterior. A gravity system of ventilation constantly supplies fresh air and removes 
the vitiated air resulting from respiiiition of the bananas, which increases rapidly during 
the ripening period. 

Bananas treated in a room of this description not only develop the color, firmness, 
flavor and food value requisite in the matured product of highest quality, but the losses 
which ordinarily occur through shrinkage by evaporation and through over-ripening and 
decay are minimized. 

HANDLING BY THE RETAILER 

The retailer's approved practice is to hang the bunches of bananas where they will 
be readily seen, but subject to as even a temperature as possible and to a circulation of 
fresh air. In winter, due care is taken to protect the fruit from draughts of cold air, 
and the bunches are covered with paper bags or wrappings in case tiie temjierature is 
low at night. In severing the bananas from the stem a specially designed banana knife 
is used to avoid tearing the skin and exposing the pulp. This point of retail service 
should be always insisted upon by the purchaser. 

FOOD VALUE OF THE BANANA 

In food value and flavor, the banana easily takes its place at the head of the 
list of raw fruits. Moreover, it surpasses most of the vegetables in energy value and in 
tissue-building elements. It is one of the few fruits which reach the highest perfection in 
food value and flavor when harvested green and allowed to ripen after being severed from 
the tree or plant. It is always cut green, even when consumed locally in the troi)ics. 
for the reason that if allowed to ripen on the plant, it loses its delicious flavor and 
becomes insi])id. The banana reaches the hands of the consumer in a germ-proof pack- 
age, sealed by nature herself. No worm, bligiit or insect sting afl:"ects the fruit i)ulp, for 
its glove-like skin protects it from contamination of all kinds. It costs less per pound 
the year round than most of the common native vegetables or fruits.* 

A common mistake is made in eating the fruit before it is thoroughly 
ripe. The riper the fruit, the more wholesome- and easily digesteil it is, as the starch 
in the green banana is converted gradually into sugar in the ripening process. 
The fact that the skin is yellow, however, does not necessarily mean that the banana 
is fully ripe. As a matter of fact, the best state in which to eat the banana is 



* Professor Samuel C. Prescott, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technohjgy. one of the foremost 
authorities iu the United States ou foods aud their relative nutritive values, in 1917 wrote as follows : 

"The lianana today provides more actual food for the same cost than any other fresh fruit 
or vegetalile, or tish, meat, milk or egjjs. The oomhination of lianana with milk in proper pro- 
I)ortion, or its utilization as a vegetalile to supplement a diet containing a small amount of meat 
will produce a ration which is ample to take care of the body needs. Meats are essentially 
protein foods aud as such are more adapted to the development of tissue than to the quick pro- 
duction of heat, while the banana, on the other hand, is less a tissue-forming substance but is 
incomparalily more effective in supplying the heat-giving materials. In a crude way we might 
say that the proteins are the foods which make good the losses due to wear and tear in the 
machinery of the body, while the carliohydrates are the foods which keep the machinery in mo- 
tion and <lo work. From this standpoint it is seen therefore that the lianana liecause of its higher 
carbohydrate content along with a certain amount of protein, would lie a more useful all-round 
food than a pure meat diet iu which the amount of carbohydrate is nil." 



48 



THE ,^TORy OF THE BAXAXA 



advanced iliat the skin begins to darken and Ite- 
tlie pnlp is mellow, the sugar and flavor-giving 



wiieii the ripening process is so far 
comes slightly discolored, for then 
coniponnds fully developed and the fruit itself is easily digested. 

to ripen hananas they should 



When 



t is desired 
kept 
at a moderate temperature, hut never 
in the ice chest — a mistake very fre- 
(piently made, as, instead of liasten- 
ing the ripening (trocess the low tem- 
perature retards it and damages the 
tine flavor whidi develops with iioi- 
mal ri])euing. Rii)e bananas, like 
other ripe fi-uits, are nutritious and 
especially good for growing childi-en.* 

^^'hile the hanana can be prepared 
for the table in various ways, it is 
surprising to find that a vast nnm- 
l)er of ]ieople are amazed to learn 
that it can be served baked or fried, 
or cooked in many other ways. The 
American and Eurojjean people are 
just beginning to appreciate the pos- 
sibilities of the banana, when cooked 
and served for daily consnmiition. as 
a vegetable. 

The public, which has long regarded 
the banana as a luxury, is just awak- 
ening to its value as a daily food. 
Increased use both in its raw and 
cooked state will stimulate fur- 
tlier jiroduction and so render stable 
an important factor in the world's 
food supply. The continued develop- 
ment of the industry means an in- 
,«,.-,„ ^T. T,.^. .x-.c crea.se in the food sni)iilv of the coun- 

A GI.VNT BUNCH OF B.iNANAS ' ' ■ 

tries im]iorting bananas as well as 
an imiiroviMuent in the commercial jirosperity and jiving conditions of the countries 
from which they are exjiorted. 

* The folldwiiii; results of an anal.vsis reiioi'tcrl in lOnn by .Vtwatcr and Rryant. workius under 
till' ans|iiccs id" llic V. S. Deinirtment of Agriculture. -^Imw the average comiiositiou nf tlii' cdildc jior- 
tiipii, i.r.. wiiliiiut tlic -ikiii or ]ii'i'l. of the apiilc. urangc, imtatu and liaiiana. 

ll'(//r/- I'rr)tiiii Fat CtiiJjiihiiilnitc Ash 

.\pple R4.6 .4 ..J 14.1' .:5 

Orange 80.0 .8 .2 ll.<! .~> 

Potato T8.r. l-'.2 .1 18.4 1.0 

Ilanana ",.Z 1.3 .6 lii.O .8 

.\ glanrc at the above figures will make jilain that the hanana contains three times as much 
lirutein as the aii]ile. nearly twice as much carbohydrate and three times as much fat as the orange; 
also that it aii]iriixiinates closely the potato in analysis and cxrceiN it liy about 20% in its fuel or 
food v.ilue 




THE STORY OF THE BANANA 49 



BIBLIOGRAPHY 



A FEAV SELECTED REFERENCES ON THE BANANA 

Adams, Frederick UrHAM — Conquest of the Tropics (a story of the enterprises of the 
United Fruit Co.). Published by Doubleday, Page & Co., New Yorli. PJ14. 

Atwater, W. C, and Bryant, A. P. — Chemical Composition of American Food Materials. 
United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Experiment Stations Bulletin 
No. 28, revised, 87 pages. I'JOtJ. 

Bailey, E. M. — Studies on the Banana. Journal Biological Chemistry, Volume 1, pp. 
355-361. liJOG. 

Bailey, E. M. — Biochemical and Bacteriological Studies on the Banana. Journal Ameri- 
can Chemical Society, Volume 34, pp. 1700-1730. 1912. 

Bailey, E. M. — Bananas as a Food. Scientific American Supplement, Volume S3, p. 52. 
January 2(), P.JI8. 

Barrett, O. "W. — Banana Culture. Philippine Agricultural Review (English edition), 
Volume 7, pp. 58-(>4. 1914. Experiment Station Record, Volume 31, p. 48. 

CorsiNs, H. H. — Banana Soils of Jamaica. II. Bulletin Department Agriculture, Ja- 
maica, Volume 1. pp. 1-17. 1903. Experiment Station Record, Volume 14, p. 748. 

Doherty, W. M. — The Analysis of the Cavendish Banana in relation to its Value as a 
Food. Chemical News, Volume GO, No. 1715, pp. 187-188. 1892. 

Fawcett, W. — The Banana — Its Cultivation, Distribution and Commercial Uses. Pub- 
lished by Duckworth & Co., London. 1913. 

Eraser, E. R. — AVhere our Bananas come from. National Geograpliic Magazine ^'ol- 
ume 23, pp. 713-730. July, 1912. 

Geerligs, H. C. Prinsen — Rapid Trausformation of Starch into Sucrose during the 
Ripening of some Tropical Fruits. International Sugar Journal, Volume 10 No 
110, pp. 372-380. 1908. 

Gore, H. C. — Changes in the Composition of Peel and Pulp of Ripening Bananas. Jour- 
nal Agricultural Research, Volume 3, pp. 187-203. December, 1914. Bibliography, 
pp. 202-203. 

Jones, Chester Lloyd — The Banana Trade. The Independent, Volume 75, No 3371 nn 
77-80. July 10, 1913. ' 

Jones, Chester Lloyd — Bananas and Diplomacy. The North American Review, Volume 
198, No. 2, pp. 188-194. Augu-st, 1913. 

Langworthv, C. F., and Milxer, R. D. — Some Results obtained in Studying Ripening 
Bananas witii tlie Respiration Calorimeter. I'nited States DeiiMrtnicnt of Ani'icuf 
ture Yearbook, 1912, pp. 29-3-308. 



50 THE STORY OF THE BANANA 

Lloyd, Francis E. — The Changes takiiiji; place (liniiiy the Kipening of Bananas, (llac- 
Douald I'rofessoi- of Botany, McOill University, Jlontreal.) 

Myers, V. C, and Rose, A. R. — The Nutritional Value of the Banana. Journal American 
Medical Association, Volume G8, p. 1022. 1917. Chemical Abstracts, Volume 2, 
p. 2001. 

NuTTALLj G. C. — A Study of the Banana and its Future I'ossibilities. Longman's Maga- 
zine, 1902, pp. :'>20-325. Experiment Station Record, Volume 14, p. 277. 

QiisiMBiNt; Y Arci'elles, Ediardo — Studies of IMiilippine Bananas. The Philippine 
Agricultural Review, Volume 12, Third (Quarter, 1919, No. 3. 

Teodori), N. G. — A I'relinunary Study of riiilippine Bananas. Philippine Journal Sci- 
ence, Section C, Volume 10, pp. :J79— 121. 1915. Experiment Station Record, Volume 
3.J, p. r.47. 

Teversiiam. T. F. — The Banana Plant : How it grows. Journal Jamaica Agricultural So- 
cietv. Volume 8, pp. 4S6— 190. 1904. Experiment Station Record, Volume IG, p. 
(570." 

United Fruit Company — Food Value of the Banana. Pamphlet containing the opiniona 
of leading medical and scientific authorities. 1917. 



THE FfTORY OF TEE BANANA 51 



UNITED FRUIT COMPANY 
What It Is and Does 



The United Fruit Company, which was incorporated on the 30th day of March. 1899, 
is engaged primarily in the production and tiansportation of tropical products, princi- 
pally hananas, sugar, cacao and coconuts. It also conducts an extensive freight and 
passenger business. 

The territory covered by its operations in the United States is divided into Northern 
Domestic and Southern Domestic Divisions, the former comprising Boston, New York, 
Philadelphia and Baltimore, and the latter comprising New Orleans, Molnle and Galves- 
ton. Its Tropical Divisions are located in tlie following countries: Colombia, Co.sta 
Rica, Cuba, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Panama and the Canary Islands. 

During the i)ast ten years it has shipped from the tropics 28-1,000,000 bunches of 
bananas, of which 230,000.000 came to the United States, and .54,000.000 went to Eng- 
land and the Continent, the latter figure including approxiunitely 9,000.000 bunches 
shipped from the Canary Islands. 

It owns 1,505,000 acres of land, of which over 350,000 are cultivated. In addition, 
it leases 121,000 acres of land, of wiiich 27,500 are cultivated. 

It operates 1,200 miles of railroad and over 3,500 miles of telephone and telegraph 
lines. 

It owns and operates in Jamaica two of the finest and most modern hotels in con- 
junction with its passenger business. 

It owns 32,500 head of cattle and 8,000 iiorses and mules. 

It does a mercantile business in Latin-America amounting to •'if9,800,000 yearly. 

It has installed and maintains waterworks, sewerage systems and electric light 
plants in various localities, transforming the Atlantic Coast of Central America — 
where it operates — from fever-ridden swamps and jungles to modern, sanitary and 
healthy communities. It has !jf750.000 invested in water supply and electric light plants. 
It spends annually |2.50,000 for sanitation and |200.000 for parks and street-clean- 
ing. It expends annually $250,000 in excess of receipts for operating electric light 
plants and waterworks and maintains hotels for employees at an annual loss of f 100,000. 

It has constructed an extensive system of hospitals and dispensaries for the bene- 
fit of its employees and the natives, which treat annually 170,000 cases, of which some 



THE STORY OF TUB BANANA 



35,000 are iion-cmployees. The annual cost of operatinj;; tliese hospitals and dispensaries 
is |;!00,000 in excess of receipts. It has just completed a new hospital in I'anama and 
is now erecting additional hospitals in Costa Kica and Cuba. 

Its steanisliips — which comprise the "Great White Fleet" — are built particularly 
for service in troiiical waters, tiie comfort and safety of ])assengers being specially 
provided for. The passenger accommodations are unexcelled ; the staterooms are 
large and spacious and many have private baths; the cuisine is equal to that of the 
Iiest hotels. Tliese steamships furnish regular passenger, mail and freight service between 
the Atlantic ports of the United States and Cuba, Jamaica and the Atlantic ports of 
Central America and Colombia, and, through the connecting lines at the Panama Canal, 
with the west coast ports of South America. In other words, the "Great "White Fleet" 
directly serves nine countries of the Western Hemisphere and is a prime factor in the 
commerce of twenty-three nations of that hemisphere. During the past ten years 
its fleet has carried .')(!0,000 pas.sengers and moved i;!,!)(>0,000 tons of freight. It ordi- 
narily uses about ninety steamships in connection with its business (including its 
chartered steamers and English fleet). 

Of the twenty-nine steamships owned by the Company and now in service, nineteen 
are refrigerator banana cargo and passenger ships, eigiit are refrigerator banana cargo 
ships, one is a non-refrigerator banana cargo ship, and one is an oil tanker. Several of 
these ships have been recently completeil. It is now building five new oil-burning 
steamslnps, of which one is a refrigerator banana cargo ship with electric drive, and 
four are sugar cargo vessels. In addition to the above, it is building four new refriger- 
ator banana cargo and passenger ships for its English fleet, bringing that fleet up to a 
total of nineteen steamships, of which six are refrigerator banana cargo and passenger 
ships and the balance refrigerator banana cargo ships. 

It has established a system of communication comprising a chain of high-powered 
radio telegraph stations located in Colombia, Costa Kica, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama 
and Swan Island, the United States terminal being located at New Orleans, with smaller 
stations at Boston, Massachusetts and Hnrrwood. Louisiana. These radio stations en- 
able the Company to keep in close touch with its tropical divisions as well as with its 
steamships. 

It also owns a substantial interest in the Wireless Specialty Apparatus Company, 
located in Boston, which is one of the largest manufacturers of radio equipment in the 
Western Hemisphere. 

Its subsidiary, the Fruit Dispatch Company, which acts as its selling agent, has 50 
branches in the United States and Canada. For the benefit of its customers, the Fruit 
Dispatch Company maintains well organized trattic and equipment departments. It is 
an estalilished rule never to dump or destroy any fruit which is fit for human consump- 
tion. Fruit unfit for human consumption is dumped or destroyed only upon the written 
order of a Board of Health. 

The United Fruit Company's English subsidiary. Elders & Fylles, Limited, prior 
to the outbreak of the World War, maintained 38 branches in Great Britain and had 



THE STORY OF THE BANANA 53 

ageucies in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Copenhagen, Hamburg, Paris and other Continental 
centres. 

Through another subsidiary, the Banana Specialty Company, it is producing and 
developing a market for dehydrated bananas. 

The United Fruit Company is one of the most complete and best equipped organi- 
zations in the world devoted to the production of sugar, having in Cuba 85,000 acres of 
cane and two large sugar mills located at the seaboard, and owning the Revere Sugar 
Refinery at Boston, which is one of the most modern plants of its kind in existence. 
This fact is not generally known by the public, which regards the United Fruit Com- 
pany solely as a banana and steamship enterprise. 

It does a large business in cacao, coconuts, citrus fruits and other tropical products. 

It has been and is carrying on a large amount of research work in its various 
tropical cultivations. It has completed and compiled in comparative form definite soil 
analyses of all its banana plantations. This work constitutes what is i)robalily the 
most extensive soil investigation ever undertaken by a single organization. 

The United Fruit Company has expended over .'if200,000,000 toward the development 
of the Latin-American countries where it does business, and has been, and is, a most 
potent factor in the extensive commercial relations of the United States with those coun- 
tries. The extent and result of the Company's operations are tersely summed up by 
William Joseph Showalter in The National Geographic Magazine (Vol. XXIV, No. 2, 
p. 233) as follows: 

"/ hold no brief for the United Fruit Company, hut it must he said that that 
great corporation has done more for Central America than all other agcticics com- 
bined." 



PRESS OP OEO. H, EILIS CO. ('NC.> BOSTON 



P D 63 




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